END THE FRANCHISE MADNESS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2014 :: RMTnews 15 R MT has secured an agreement for recognition and reward payments across First Scotrail that will see staff receiving additional payments of up to £275 each. RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that after long negotiations the union had secured an agreement which will properly reward all staff involved in delivering services throughout the Games. “It is only right that those carrying the pressure of operating services against a backdrop of intense demand are recognised and the deal that we have now signed off does just that. “We also have an agreement in place that no staff will be dismissed from their posts throughout the duration of the Games. “I want to pay tribute to the RMT negotiating team who have put long hours into reaching this agreement which recognises the key role that staff will play in delivering a successful Commonwealth Games,” he said. RMT has launched a campaign to save jobs after the government handed Serco the franchise for Scottish sleeper services and launched plans to that would rip two other franchises to shreds in the name of maximising private profit. Government plans for the Northern Rail and Trans Pennine Express franchises would destroy jobs, services and safety. Plans include Driver Only Operation to be introduced on the Northern franchise and DOO to be left at the discretion of the franchisee on the TPE. They also include increasing fares, reducing ticket office opening times, cuts to “back room and support functions” staff, possible “alliancing” between franchisees and Network Rail. The union is promoting a petition over the future of the services that has been launched by campaign group 38 Degrees on their website. Over 2000 people have already signed up. RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that it was clear that the full force of the McNulty cuts programme was being unleashed on Northern and Trans Pennine Express in an exercise that would slash jobs, destroy safety and axe ticket offices and other passenger services while allowing fares and profits to soar through the roof. “RMT is gearing up for a political, industrial and public campaign to stop this act of savage vandalism to rail services across the north and into Scotland dead in its tracks,” he said. He warned that rolling stock and investment was being shipped south to maximise profits on other lucrative franchises that are closer to the homes of the political elite driving this rail-austerity programme. “Meanwhile the north is being systematically robbed of capacity despite surging demand. “The message to the public is clear – ‘pay more to travel on overcrowded, unstaffed trains where your safety is reduced to a lottery,” he said. This scandal was compounded by the news that the Scottish sleeper service had been handed to SERCO on a 15 year franchise worth £800 million. The union warned that SERCO had a shocking track record in the delivery of public services with a reputation for promising the earth and delivering quite the opposite as they seek to maximise profits and sweat their assets for every single penny piece. RMT will be meeting with the other rail unions to ensure that any threat to the jobs and conditions of the staff transferring across from First to SERCO would be met with fierce resistance including the use of industrial action if required. SNP Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown admitted that the Scottish government had no choice in the matter as, under EU rules, the tender had to go with who wins the bid and “the best bid came from Serco. "We don't like the franchise process, not least because you have the absurd anomaly whereby state-owned companies from the rest of Europe can bid but you can't have a public sector bid from the UK. “It just doesn't make sense and it disadvantages UK industry. "French, Dutch or German state-owned companies like Arriva can have a large part of the UK network but UK state- owned companies can't,” he said. R ail workers rallied in support of the on-going fight to secure the future of train building in Derby last month and to reinforce the case for public ownership. After a high-profile and sustained campaign, the Bombardier train manufacturing plant at Derby has been awarded the contract to build the new fleet for the Crossrail trans-London line. This was an important victory both in terms of securing work for large numbers of skilled jobs. At least 10,000 jobs rely on the continuation of train-building in Derby, both directly at the Bombardier plant and in the wider supply chain. The rally was part of the campaign to defend all rail jobs and for a publicly owned railway. Speakers included RMT president Peter Pinkney and local MP Chris Williamson, an RMT Parliamentary group member. RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that that the fight must continue to secure a future for the long and proud tradition of manufacturing trains in this country. COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCOTRAIL VICTORY END THE FRANCHISE MADNESS Rail franchise fiasco rolls on as government hands Scottish sleeper services to Serco and launches all-out attack on jobs DERBY RALLIES FOR UK TRAIN MANUFACTURING